9 Things We Should Teach Our Children to Help Our Planet Survive

Our kids pick up habits very quickly and, if we as parents teach them eco-friendly habits, it can play a huge role in preserving the environment. It’s essential to establish these habits so that our kids can connect better with nature and so it will inspire them to have lively conversations about saving the planet. It will also make them more aware of environmental challenges, so they can discuss ways to solve them in the future.

At Bright Side we would like to share a few things that can help teach our children about ways to save the planet.

1. Use social media to create solutions for saving the planet.

Social media can become quite addictive, especially to the younger generation who are exposed to a variety of content and spend less time in nature. However, it can be used positively (like to save the planet) when kids are encouraged to connect, support, and inspire each other across the globe with a common interest in nature and conservation through exchanging ideas and creating solutions.

2. Learn that when emissions go down, global warming slows down.

Children can be taught that vehicles are a huge cause of global warming and account for 1/5 of all emissions. They can take this info and apply it to their own future purchasing decisions. Taking good care of our planet can be done by avoiding overcrowding our environment with vehicles.

Minimizing the number of vehicles per person reduces the emissions of carbon gases that cause pollution and promote global warming. Also, by using electric cars and fuel-efficient cars, we can promote renewable energy, since they produce zero emissions.

3. Always close your taps, since every drop counts.

Teach kids the importance of water conservation by saving water. This can be done by turning off the taps, boiling only the amount of water you need, and collecting and preserving rainwater. We should also encourage them to take quicker showers, since every minute you spend in a power shower uses up to 17 liters of water.

4. Ensure animals are well-taken care of.

Children should be taught that all living creatures should be treated with care and respect from the wild to the domesticated ones. They should be cared for by being given food and love to ensure a healthy balance of the ecological system.

They can help the animals on the planet by participating during visits to the vet and also by avoiding participating in entertainment that harms animals, like circuses, dog fights, or even command performances by animals.

5. Recycle and reuse plastics.

Kids should be encouraged to recycle their plastic bottles, bottle caps, and containers since they are non-biodegradable materials that take several decades to degrade. It is the best means to protect the planet from plastic waste pollution, plastic landfills, and plastic pollution in the sea that also affect our biosphere.

6. Eat more fresh and organic foods in meals.

The production of organic foods is said to be better for the environment than conventional farming methods since they avoid using artificial fertilizers and pesticides that harm that the soil. The food produced is also healthier and more nutritious.

Some tips include:

1. Snacking on fruits is a great alternative to most junk foods
2. Eating foods that are low in fat
3. Eating whole grain cereals and bread

7. Plant as many trees as you can.

Trees are the future and we should teach kids to appreciate and protect them. Creating a culture of planting them will be essential to our ecosystem in the future.

They can begin by :

1. Growing mixtures of both trees and plants (like sunflowers, corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, and strawberries)
2. Planting flowers that attract butterflies, ladybirds, and other interesting insects or birds
3. Visiting community gardens, children’s farms, or botanical gardens for planting ideas

8. Switch off lights in rooms you’re not using.

Children of all ages should learn to save energy by exploring and enjoying the outside world, like taking walks to the beach and camping to understand the sources of various natural resources and how to maintain them. Switching off lights when you’re done using them is also a great activity to teach your children while they are young for how to save electricity and energy in general.

9. Participate in local clean-ups in the community.

Encouraging children to participate in community clean-up days by gathering and collecting trash is a great way to make the world a better place and interact with others.

Would you agree that these are important to teach to our children? Tell us in the comments down below. What other lessons you would add?